Heat regulator for electric irons



Nov. 14, 1933.

L. L. VALENTINE HEAT REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC IRONS Filed Jan. 12, 1932L.L Va Zen 11 71. 8

Patented Nov. 14, 1933' UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE HEAT REGULATOR FOBEMBCTBIC IRONS Loyd L; Valentine, Hamburg, Iowa Application January 12,1932. Serial No. 586,199

3 Claims. (Cl. 200140) The present invention relates to heat control orregulating devices and more particularly to a heat regulating devicewhich is adapted to be positioned on a flat iron or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a heat regulating device whichmay be removably attached to any conventional electric fiat iron andwhich, when mounted on the iron, willeifectively control the temperatureof the iron.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kindwhich may be readily attached to the iron without in any way interferingwith the normal use of the iron and which will not require the use ofseparate means for attaching the heatcontrol device to the iron.

A further object of this invention is to provide a thermatic heatcontrolling member which may be constructed in relatively small andcompact form so that it may be readily mounted on the present parts ofthe electric iron.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill in part be described and in part be understood from the followingdetailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same beingillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:-

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a device constructed according tothe preferred embodiment of this invention mounted on a conventionalelectric flat iron;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially throughthe center of the device; and

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially throughthe center of the device.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10designates generally an electric flat iron having a. conventional handle11 with is mounted on the iron and held in position by screws or bolts13 or the like. The iron 10 is provided with a pair of spaced contactterminals 12 which extend outwardly of the body of the iron 10. y

In the irons at present in use, the connecting plug is removably mountedon the terminals 12. In order to provide an automatic heat control-=ling device or unit for electric irons of ordinmy construction I haveprovided a thermal unit which comprises a casing 14, the casing 14.being constructed of insulating-material. The casing 14 comprises a baseportion 15, side wall members 16, an outer plate 1'7, and a top plate18. An inner plate or wall 19 is secured to the base 15 and the top 18and engages against the side walls 16, being held in adjusted positionby means oi bolts or screws 20 or the like.

An electric cord comprising a pair of wires 21 and 22 is extendedthrough an aperture 23 in the casing i l, the wire 21 being connected todo a spring contact arm 24 which is mounted in depending relation on anoutstanding lug 25.

A terminal engaging member 26 is mounted in the base 15 and isadapted'to engage one of the terminals 12 of the fiat iron 10. The wire22 is connected to another terminal engaging member 27. An upstandingfixed contact 28 is mounted on the base 15 and connected to the terminalengaging member 26, the fixed contact 28 being adapted to be engaged bythe lower end 74) 29 of the resilient or movable contact arm 24. Whenthe movable contact arm 24 engages the fixed con act 28, the electriccircuit is closed so as to heat the iron.

A thermal unit or member 30 comprising an expansible casing 'ofdisc-like form is secured to the inner wall 19 of the casing 14 by meansof a bolt 31 or the like. The thermal member 30 is of relativelyflexible or expansible construction and expansible gas or vapor may beinserted within the unitso as to readily expand or contract the walls ofthe unit upon increase or decrease of the temperature. The thermalmember 30 is provided with an axially disposed insulating pin 32 whichis diametrically opposed to the bolt 31 and is adapted to engage againstone side of the movable contact, arm 24. A threaded sleeve or bushing 33is mounted in the outer wall l! of the casing 14 and a threaded knurledbolt 34 is adapted to threadably engage the interior of the bushing 33.

A sleeve or solenoid 35 is mounted within the casing is and ispositioned about a tensioning spring 36, the spring 36 engaging at oneend against the bolt 34 and at the opposite end against a washer 37 orthe like which is positioned on the inner end of the sleeve 36.

If desired, the sleeve 36 may be constructed integrally with the washer3'7 and the outer end of the sleeve 36 slidably .mounted on the bolt 1 g34 or upon the periphery of the bushing 33, the bushing 33 beingextended through the wall 1? so as to provide a slidable support for thesleeve 36. i

In the operation of this device, the wires 21 and 22 may be connected toan electric circuit by the conventional plug means and the casing 14slipped over the terminal members 12 so that the contacts 16 and 17within the casing 14 will engage the terminals 12 of the fiat iron.

When the casing 14 is relatively cold or first placed on the iron 10,the thermal member 30 will be in contracted form so that the contactingpoint 32 will be out of engagement with the movable contact arm 24 so asto permit the contacting end 29 of the arm 24 to engage the fixedcontact 28 and thereby close the electric circuit for heating of theiron 10. The adjustable thumb bolt 34 may be turned so as to properlytension the spring 36 so as to hold the contact point 29 into engagementwith the contact 28 until the iron 10 and cooperatively the casing 14have become heated thereby expanding the thermal member 30 so as toforce the movable contact arm 24 away from the fixed contact 28 andagainst the tension of the spring 36.

It will of course be understood that the tension of the spring 36 may beso adjusted that the iron will be heated to any desired temperaturebefore the thermal member 30 breaks the circuit. While the thermalmember 30 has been described as constituting a substantially closed orsealed member, I do not wish to be limited to this construction as anydesired thermal or expansible member may be used which will expand andcontract readily upon variation of the temperature.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that a relatively simple heatcontrolling device has been disclosed which may be removably mounted onany conventional flat iron which is heated by electricity and that thisheat controlling device may be so adjusted as to heat the iron to a predetermined temperature and maintain the iron at the predeterminedtemperature during the entire time that the iron is interposed in theelectric circuit.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications maybe made in the details of construction and design of the abovespecifically described embodiment of this invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restrictedonly by the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:-- I

1. A combined heat regulating device and electric connector of thecharacter described comprising a pair of fixed contacts adapted forremovable engagement with a pair of spaced terminals, means forconnecting one of said contacts in an electric circuit, a movablecircuit closer, means for connecting said movable circuit closer to theother side of the electric circuit, manually controlled tensioning meansengaging said circult closer whereby to normally urge said circuitcloser into engagement with the other of said fixed contacts, andthermal means engaging said circuit closer whereby to move said circuitcloser out of engagement with said other contact at a predeterminedtemperature.

2. A combined heat regulating device and electric connector of thecharacter described comprising an insulated casing, a pair of fixedcontacts mounted in the casing and adapted for engagement with a pair ofterminals, means for connecting one of said fixed contacts to one sideof an electric circuit, a resilient movable circuit closer mounted inthe casing, means for connecting said movable circuit closer to theother side of the electric circuit, adjustable tension means mountedwithin the casing and engaging said circuit closer whereby to normallyurge said circuit closer into engagement with the other of said fixedcontacts whereby to close the circult, and a thermal member mountedwithin the casing and adapted to engage the circuit closer at apredetermined temperature whereby to break the circuit.

3. A combined heat regulating device, and electric connector of thecharacter described comprising an insulated casing, a pair of fixedcontacts mounted within the casing, means Ior connecting one of saidcontacts to one side of an electric circuit, a movable circuit closer,adjustable tensioning means mounted in the casing and engaging saidcircuit closer whereby to normally urge said circuit closer intoengagement with the other of said fixed contacts, said tensioning meanscomprising a threaded bushing mounted in the casing, a thumb boltthreadedly engaging the bushing, a sleeve slidably mounted in the casingand engaging about the inner end of said thumb bolt, an expansiblespring mounted within the sleeve and contacting at one end with one endof the bolt and a washer mounted on the inner end of said sleeve andengaging the inner end of said spring, and thermal means mounted withinthe casing and adapted to move a said circuit closer out of engagementwith the other of said fixed contacts against the tension of saidspring.

LOYD L. VALENTINE.

